Euphemism

INTRODUCTION

Euphemism is substitution for an expression that may offend or sounds unpleasant to the receiver. Speaker intends to be less offensive, disturbing and troubling to the listener than the word or phrase it replaces. Some euphemisms are intended to amuse, while others are created to mislead.

Euphemism often used to hide unpleasant or disturbing ideas, even when the literal term for them is not necessarily offensive. This type of euphemism is used in public relation and politic, where it is sometimes called doublespeak. Sometimes the use of euphemism is equated to politeness. There are also superstitious euphemisms, based ( consciously or subconsciously ) on the idea that words have the power to bring bad fortune, and there are religious euphemisms, bases on the idea that some words are holy, or that some words are spiritually perilous like taboo.

According to the historical review, the word “euphemism” comes from the Greek (euphemia), meaning “the use of word of good omen”. The eupheme was originally a word or phrase used in place of religious word or phrase that should not be spoken aloud. The term euphemism itself was used as a euphemism by the ancient Greeks, meaning “to keep a holy silence” (speaking well by not speaking at all).

Euphemism for profane words and expression in English language are commonly taken from three areas; there are religion, excretion and sex. While profanities themselves have been around for centuries, their limited use in public and by the media has only slowly become socially acceptable, and there are still many expressions which are out of place in polite conversation. One influence on the current tolerance of such language may be the frequency of its use on prime-time television. The word damn (and most other religious profanity in the English language) has long lost its shock value and as a consequence, euphemism for it (e.g, dang, darn-it) have taken on a very stodgy feeling. Euphemism for male masturbation such...